(RepublicanNews.org) – An airstrike against the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, killed seven Iranian military officials including General Mohammed Reza Zahedi on Tuesday, April 2nd. The Iranian regime has branded the strike “cowardly” and sworn to exact revenge against Israel, who it believes to be the perpetrator.
Israel has not confirmed that it was the source of Tuesday’s attack, with one Israeli official anonymously telling the press that although the people hit by the strike had been behind plans to attack both American and Israeli assets, Israel did not have the consulate on its list of targets. Tehran has also declared that it holds the U.S. responsible alongside its ally Israel due to its long-term support of the sole democratic nation in the Middle East.
Zahedi, who had previously been sanctioned by both the U.S. and UK, was the leader of the Quds Force, an elite section of the military based in Lebanon and Syria. His death makes him the highest-ranked member of the Iranian armed forces to be killed since the assassination by drone strike of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, ordered by then-U.S. President Donald Trump.
Despite Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei promising an outright retaliation against the nation he believes responsible, some experts believe that Iran will avoid facing Israel head-on, instead choosing one of its proxy terror groups, such as Hezbollah, to strike the country. Hezbollah has also promised “punishment and revenge” after the death of Zahedi, who reportedly played a crucial role in developing and strengthening the violent militia, allegedly working to ensure a steady supply of weapons, and acting as a liaison with Syrian intelligence services.
Since the beginning of the Hamas-Israel war following the October 7th atrocities in 2023, Hezbollah has been actively targeting Israel on a near-daily basis, launching missiles from its bases in neighboring Lebanon and Syria. Iran is also reported to be a powerful force behind the Islamist terror groups Hamas and the Houthis, using these proxy militia to attack Israel as well as the U.S. and other Western assets.
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